Harold and Leona
Leona twisted her rose petal apron in her tiny blue fingers. “Oh Harold, I just know he’s in there!”
Harold studied the gap in the foundation with trepidation.``I don’t know, dear. Why would he—I mean, I just can’t imagine—“ His voice trailed off.
“Oh Harold, you’ve just got to find him. I cannot bear it.” A tiny glistening tear slipped down her azure cheek.
Harold felt helpless. He knew the other garden pixies considered him gormless. His umber flesh and amber-tinted wings were drab and unremarkable and his only magical gift, transmogrification, was little more than a party trick. Mating with Leona was an honor that he had always feared was undeserved. She could have chosen any pixie in the troupe, but she had picked him. Now their son, Piper, was missing and he was trying his best not to hyperventilate in front of her and prove, once and for all, that he was unworthy.
Leona reached to stroke his brown cheek. “Harold, do you know why I married you?”
“I’ve always assumed it was pity.”
Leona ignored his self deprecation. “I married you, not because of the pixie you were, but because I saw the pixie you could be.” She dipped her chin, forcing him to look into her aquamarine eyes. “You can find him. I believe in you.”
Harold felt his heart swell and his two inch spine straighten. I can do this, he thought, but his bravado faltered when he stood alone under the house. Looking back at Leona from inside the crawl space, she seemed very far away.
Pixies are creatures of light and joy, but the crawl space was the antithesis. Surprising himself, he spontaneously shapeshifted. Now, as a mouse, he was in his element. His sense of smell was far more effective than his sense of sight in the dismal space. Standing up on thin hind legs, he inhaled deeply. His pink nose twitched as he tasted his son’s scent in the fetid air, but he also noted that he was not alone. He couldn’t tell who shared the darkness but, he knew a mouse was always prey and never predator and so, he pin-balled from hiding spot to hiding spot.
“Piper? Son? Can you hear me?” His little shell ears swiveled, searching. He was so intent, that when a voice chittered beside him in the darkness, he jumped straight up, barely missing the floor joist above him.
“Carmine, you scared the hay right out of me. What are you doing here?”
Recognizing the pixie’s voice, Carmine declared, “Is that you Harry? Well done old sport, well done!”
Carmine continued,“ and as you asked, I was taking an after dinner nap until you came in faffing about!”
“My apologies, but Piper has gone missing. Have you seen—“ Harold froze as the word dinner rang an alarm in his head.
“Relax old man, I’ve already eaten. And— before you ask —, no, it was not Piper. We’re old friends, you and I. I would never do that!” But Harold suspected that Carmine’s scruples only went as far as his empty belly.
“His mother is convinced that he’s here, under the house.”
“Well then,” began the old raccoon, “we best start searching immediately.” Harold gratefully accepted, but he was also careful to never turn his back on his friendly predator.
Carmine lowered his snout. “Climb up. You’ll have a better view. Yes, that’s it. Now, sit between my ears. Grab a handful of fur and hold tight.”
The unlikely pair moved quickly through the human detritus; tin cans, an old bicycle steering wheel, and other discarded items. Abruptly, Harold jerked on Carmine’s coarse gray pelt causing him to yelp.
“Shush!” commanded Harold. “I hear him. There, in the corner!”
Carmine hesitated. “Aye, but he’s not alone is he?”
Harold had already recognized the acrid smell of Regina, the corn snake that patrolled the garden in the cool moonlight.
“Let me down. I will go alone from here. No sense in putting you at risk.”
“Balderdash! What kind of chap would I be if—“ but a thrashing noise interrupted his declaration of loyalty.
“Who’sssss there? Ssssstay back!”
“Regina, it's me, Harold, from the garden. I believe you have my youngest cornered there. His mother and I would greatly appreciate his safe return.”
“I offer no clemencsssssssy.”
Carmine continued to advance, unnoticed, until he could clearly see the striped snake.
“Harry old boy,” he laughed, “she’s bluffing. She’s trussed up like a Christmas goose in a bit of fencing wire.”
Regina began to thrash and twist again, but she could neither advance nor retreat. Piper was trapped, but so was she.
“Shall we discuss mercy now, Regina?” Harold asked.
She stopped flailing in her metal chokehold and sighed sibilantly, “Very well. I will sssssspare the child, if you will releasssse me.”
Carmine chittered doubtfully, “I don’t trust her.” But Harold had already begun tugging at the barbs digging into Regina’s cool rubbery flesh.
Looking into Regina’s dark unblinking eyes, Harold confessed, “I believe she is honorable but, regardless, I have no choice. I promised Leona that I would return her child.”
Carmine muttered something about trusting fools, but quickly added his much larger paws to the rescue attempt.
“Okay, this is the last one. When we pull it back—“ Regina quickly slithered free and Piper bounded into his father’s arms.
The three stood warily as the snake turned.“You are a brave little moussssssse,” she hissed.
“I am not a mouse, I am a man and,” he grinned, “I am more afraid of Leona than I am of you.”
“I ssssseriously doubt that,” chuckled Regina. “Nonethelesssss, I keep my promises. You may go.”
As Harold turned to retreat, Regina called after him, “You understand. Thissssssss was a one time deal? Next time—”
“Not, if I see you first!” declared Harold with more nerve than he felt.
Regina’s snort of admiration echoed behind them as they emerged heroically into the safety of the sunshine and Leona’s waiting arms.
Harold studied the gap in the foundation with trepidation.``I don’t know, dear. Why would he—I mean, I just can’t imagine—“ His voice trailed off.
“Oh Harold, you’ve just got to find him. I cannot bear it.” A tiny glistening tear slipped down her azure cheek.
Harold felt helpless. He knew the other garden pixies considered him gormless. His umber flesh and amber-tinted wings were drab and unremarkable and his only magical gift, transmogrification, was little more than a party trick. Mating with Leona was an honor that he had always feared was undeserved. She could have chosen any pixie in the troupe, but she had picked him. Now their son, Piper, was missing and he was trying his best not to hyperventilate in front of her and prove, once and for all, that he was unworthy.
Leona reached to stroke his brown cheek. “Harold, do you know why I married you?”
“I’ve always assumed it was pity.”
Leona ignored his self deprecation. “I married you, not because of the pixie you were, but because I saw the pixie you could be.” She dipped her chin, forcing him to look into her aquamarine eyes. “You can find him. I believe in you.”
Harold felt his heart swell and his two inch spine straighten. I can do this, he thought, but his bravado faltered when he stood alone under the house. Looking back at Leona from inside the crawl space, she seemed very far away.
Pixies are creatures of light and joy, but the crawl space was the antithesis. Surprising himself, he spontaneously shapeshifted. Now, as a mouse, he was in his element. His sense of smell was far more effective than his sense of sight in the dismal space. Standing up on thin hind legs, he inhaled deeply. His pink nose twitched as he tasted his son’s scent in the fetid air, but he also noted that he was not alone. He couldn’t tell who shared the darkness but, he knew a mouse was always prey and never predator and so, he pin-balled from hiding spot to hiding spot.
“Piper? Son? Can you hear me?” His little shell ears swiveled, searching. He was so intent, that when a voice chittered beside him in the darkness, he jumped straight up, barely missing the floor joist above him.
“Carmine, you scared the hay right out of me. What are you doing here?”
Recognizing the pixie’s voice, Carmine declared, “Is that you Harry? Well done old sport, well done!”
Carmine continued,“ and as you asked, I was taking an after dinner nap until you came in faffing about!”
“My apologies, but Piper has gone missing. Have you seen—“ Harold froze as the word dinner rang an alarm in his head.
“Relax old man, I’ve already eaten. And— before you ask —, no, it was not Piper. We’re old friends, you and I. I would never do that!” But Harold suspected that Carmine’s scruples only went as far as his empty belly.
“His mother is convinced that he’s here, under the house.”
“Well then,” began the old raccoon, “we best start searching immediately.” Harold gratefully accepted, but he was also careful to never turn his back on his friendly predator.
Carmine lowered his snout. “Climb up. You’ll have a better view. Yes, that’s it. Now, sit between my ears. Grab a handful of fur and hold tight.”
The unlikely pair moved quickly through the human detritus; tin cans, an old bicycle steering wheel, and other discarded items. Abruptly, Harold jerked on Carmine’s coarse gray pelt causing him to yelp.
“Shush!” commanded Harold. “I hear him. There, in the corner!”
Carmine hesitated. “Aye, but he’s not alone is he?”
Harold had already recognized the acrid smell of Regina, the corn snake that patrolled the garden in the cool moonlight.
“Let me down. I will go alone from here. No sense in putting you at risk.”
“Balderdash! What kind of chap would I be if—“ but a thrashing noise interrupted his declaration of loyalty.
“Who’sssss there? Ssssstay back!”
“Regina, it's me, Harold, from the garden. I believe you have my youngest cornered there. His mother and I would greatly appreciate his safe return.”
“I offer no clemencsssssssy.”
Carmine continued to advance, unnoticed, until he could clearly see the striped snake.
“Harry old boy,” he laughed, “she’s bluffing. She’s trussed up like a Christmas goose in a bit of fencing wire.”
Regina began to thrash and twist again, but she could neither advance nor retreat. Piper was trapped, but so was she.
“Shall we discuss mercy now, Regina?” Harold asked.
She stopped flailing in her metal chokehold and sighed sibilantly, “Very well. I will sssssspare the child, if you will releasssse me.”
Carmine chittered doubtfully, “I don’t trust her.” But Harold had already begun tugging at the barbs digging into Regina’s cool rubbery flesh.
Looking into Regina’s dark unblinking eyes, Harold confessed, “I believe she is honorable but, regardless, I have no choice. I promised Leona that I would return her child.”
Carmine muttered something about trusting fools, but quickly added his much larger paws to the rescue attempt.
“Okay, this is the last one. When we pull it back—“ Regina quickly slithered free and Piper bounded into his father’s arms.
The three stood warily as the snake turned.“You are a brave little moussssssse,” she hissed.
“I am not a mouse, I am a man and,” he grinned, “I am more afraid of Leona than I am of you.”
“I ssssseriously doubt that,” chuckled Regina. “Nonethelesssss, I keep my promises. You may go.”
As Harold turned to retreat, Regina called after him, “You understand. Thissssssss was a one time deal? Next time—”
“Not, if I see you first!” declared Harold with more nerve than he felt.
Regina’s snort of admiration echoed behind them as they emerged heroically into the safety of the sunshine and Leona’s waiting arms.
